You could race in France, THE REAL THING. CCB2000 has been having racing trips to France for 20 years. Basingstoke is twinned with Alencon in Normandy, each year a twinning weekend resulted in riders going to race in Alencon, and also Alencon riders coming to Basingstoke to ride the CCB 2 day.
 Riders such as Graham Owen and Bob Leach had success on the trips over to france, achieving places, and the success of the twinning was sealed. The CCB 2 day, thrived with riders from both France and Holland riding each year.
 All this success convinced Hugh Ashworth he should race full time in France, so he moved there racing for VC Alencon and VC La Ferte Mace, both in L'orne, South Normandy, between 1980 and 1984
Dave Watkinson followed in Hugh's footsteps, going to race for VC Alencon in 1990, and then for EC Mayenne from 1991 to 1994. Dave restarted the FranceTrip in 1999, when riders from the Midlands Squad went over to Mayenne for a weekend in August.
Here are some pictures from the trip.
Warming up for the big event, races in France go flat out from the start, be prepared.
Dave and Gary depart, and the pace is hot from the start.
Jez is ready for the first attack!
All survived 100 kilometres on the hottest day of the year. The girls learned how to hand up bottles
Thankfully, there was a beer tent by the finish line to aid with recovery!
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